THE CRY OF THE HEART FOR FORGIVENESS
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” Psalm 51:1.
“I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.” Isaiah 44:22.
THIS STAIRCASE has been trodden by myriads of penitent souls. Few of God’s elect saints have passed through life without having painfully climbed its stairs. On the wall opposite the pallet in the cell where St. Augustine died, this first verse was set out where his eyes could constantly see it.
The Psalmist uses three words for the Forgiveness he craves–that his transgressions might be blotted out, like the legends scribbled over the ancient Gospels of the palimpsest; that his iniquity should be washed away, as the soil from linen; and that all traces of his past sin should be forgiven and cleansed away, even as leprosy in the case of Naaman was so obliterated that his flesh became as a little child. How tenderly Jesus responded to the agonized cry of the leper for cleansing: “I will, be thou clean!”
How wonderfully these petitions of the soul burdened with the sense of sin are answered! Do you ask to be purged with hyssop? Listen to the voice of God saying: “I even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for My own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” He purges us with the Blood of Christ, who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God. Do you ask to be made white as snow? “These are they who have washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” Do you ask to hear joy and gladness? “It is meet to make merry and be glad, for this, my child was lost and is found.” Do you desire to offer a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God? Give Him your broken and contrite heart; think not that He will despise it! The fragrance of a broken box of alabaster fills Heaven and earth to this day! – F.B. Meyer
The Lord's Day Services
Sunday, April 9, 2017:
10:00a.m. Sunday School – Dr. Frank McClelland
11:00a.m. Morning Service – Dr. Frank McClelland
6:00p.m. Pre-service Prayer
6:30p.m. Evening Service – Elder James Fraser
Weekly Announcements
Tuesday, April 11th
7:30p.m. The Connect Group
Wednesday, April 12th
7:25p.m. Reformation Presentation on the Life of John Wycliffe, followed by a Prayer Time.
Thursday, April 13th
6:00p.m. Session Meeting
7:30p.m. Session & boarding Meeting
Friday, April 14th
NO Good News Bible Club
Advance Announcements
Sunday, April 16th
10:00a.m. Sunday School
11:00a.m. Morning Service – Dr. Larry Saunders
6:00p.m. Pre-service Prayer
6:30p.m. Evening Service – Dr. Larry Saunders
Wednesday, April 19th
7:25p.m. Prayer Meeting & Bible Study
Thursday, April 20th
7:30p.m. Women’s Missionary Fellowship
Friday, April 21st
7:00p.m. Good News Bible Club
Deepest Sympathy
We would like to extend deepest sympathy to Mr. Louis Fernandes and family on the passing of his sister Sylvia, on Saturday, April 8th. We pray that the family will know the nearness and comfort of the Lord at this sad time.
FPCNA Current Magazine
Please visit www.fpcurrent.com for the latest complete magazine and easy access to all the articles for downloading or sharing with friends.
Port Hope FPC Easter Bible Conference
Rev. Colin Mercer – Faith FPC, Greenville, SC
Good Friday, April 14th at 3:30p.m. & 7:00p.m.
Supper will be provided between services on Friday.
Saturday, April 15th, at 7:00p.m.
All are welcome to attend.
Truth In Our Days Ministry - Special Debate
Date: April 22, 2017
Location: Toronto Free Presbyterian Church
Time: 7:00p.m. – 10:00p.m.
Truth in Our Days, founded by Mr. John Tors, is hosting an important debate on the true text of the New Testament. Mr. Tors will be defending the Byzantine text (the basis of the Textus Receptus) against Dr. Tony Costa, who will be defending the Nestle-Aland Critical text. It is an opportunity to raise awareness of this topic, which is of crucial importance, yet remains virtually unknown among Christians.
Missionary Conference
Date: May 5 – 7, 2017
Location: Toronto Free Presbyterian Church
Time: 7:30p.m. on Friday. 6:00p.m. on Saturday. 10:00a.m., 11:00a.m and 6:30p.m. on Sunday
We are excited about the upcoming missionary conference on the theme of “Labouring together with God” 1Cor 3:9. Special guests include Dr. Mark Allison, Mission Board Chairman, Rev. Jason Boyle and his wife Danielle from Mexico City and Mr. Richard Craig from Jamaica. Please invite your friends and be in prayer for this conference.
